A Holiday Sampler

By Christine Collier

A book filled with holiday stories. Fifteen different holidays to be exact touched with romance, humor, mystery, and inspiration!

A humorous tale about New Year resolutions opens the book. A romantic Class Reunion on Valentine weekend follows. A St. Patrick's Day meal, Dinner by Candlelight and Thanksgiving at Gobble Inn, Let's Talk Turkey will make you laugh.

Why has no one been allowed in The Attic for years in the Mother's Day story?

Who is writing notes in dark red ink and signing them The Bookworm in the Fourth of July murder mystery? A Halloween black cat makes an appearance in Meow. Patriotic stories for Memorial and Veteran's Day add to the festivities.

The heart tugging Christmas Eve story, Dear Santa, will warm the winter's cold. More mysteries at Christmas and New Year's Eve round out this anthology.

A fast, enjoyable read for all!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 11, 2007
• ISBN: 9780595901166

Christine Collier

Christine E. Collier is married, the mother of three, soon to be a grandmother for the fifth time. She lives in Pine City, New York. Her other books include a mystery series, The Writer?s Club, Mystery is Our Shadow, Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn and Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Her children?s books are Adventure on Apple Orchard Road and Twelve Months of Mystery.

Book preview

NEW YEAR’S DAY 

RESOLUTIONS

Ellen grabbed the morning newspaper, snuggled into the overstuffed cushion in their breakfast nook and glanced at the headlines.

Happy New Year! What will your Resolution Be?

Ellen went on to read the article about the top five desired resolutions. They were:

1. Spend more time with family and friends.

2. Learn something new.

3. Loose that bulge.

4. Enjoy life more.

5. Get organized.

Wow, I need to improve all of these things. That’s it! My resolution is to do all five of these for the next year. Can’t wait until Andy wakes up so I can tell him. I’ll start the morning by making a healthy breakfast, hot oatmeal with sliced bananas and homemade whole wheat toast. I already signed up for crochet lessons at Samantha’s so that will answer the resolution to learn something new and since half the choir at church is going that will cover the first resolution to spend more time with family and friends. I’ll walk to Samantha’s so that will give me exercise to lose my bulge and I’m going to organize my kitchen cupboards this morning. I can’t believe how great this is going. Most people are happy to do one resolution but I’m doing five!

Good morning honey, Andy said as he ruffled her hair as he walked by. Oatmeal, yuck! I thought I smelled bacon or sausage.

I made five new resolutions for the New Year Andy and eating healthier is one of them.

Well that’s great for you but I didn’t make any resolutions, I’m going to make breakfast home fries.

Ellen moaned but knew there was nothing she could do and silently ate her lukewarm oatmeal. After she finished breakfast she began organizing their junk drawer, she found all sorts of odds and ends. She chipped her freshly painted fingernail on an old hammer. She closed the drawer. I’ll work on that another day.

Later in the morning her best friend Samantha called. Hi, I’ve decided our friends are too annoying and I’m not going to teach them how to crochet. Maybe I’ll try it some other time, Samantha said clearly disgusted.

Why, who is being annoying? Ellen asked with surprise.

A better question is who isn’t being annoying. Fran told Betty that since I eat so many sweets she doesn’t want to be around the temptation. Give me a break, Fran works in a pastry shop!

Ellen burst out laughing. What else happened?

Judy said her mind needs much more stimulation than learning those crafty crafts. She said the word crafts as if I was teaching her how to make mud pies. I mean the woman only finished the eighth grade and her greatest joy in life is Bingo! I really didn’t feel as though her mind was that superior to ours.

Again Ellen started laughing and almost didn’t dare to ask about any other comments. Well Samantha, we always have our families, surely many of them will be interested.

Even Samantha snickered as she answered, Well Mom called and said since my house is such a pig sty she’s afraid the dust will trigger an allergy attack.

With that Ellen dropped the phone and laughed so hard she started coughing.

Samantha, I’ve made five resolutions for the New Year and one is to lose my bulge so I think I’ll walk to your house this morning and share a cup of coffee.

That’s a good little distance in this weather but good for you. I’ll have the coffee pot waiting for you. See you soon.

Ellen decided to tidy up the kitchen before she left. It would have been easier if I just made our usual breakfast. I ended up with the oatmeal pot, all the mess from baking homemade wheat bread and all Andy’s mess. Oh well, I’m going to get some fresh air and walk to Samantha’s.

Ellen looked for twenty minutes for her warmest scarf and gloves and her sturdy walking boots. She finally got out of the house and had just left her yard when she slipped on a patch of ice and landed in a snow bank. Andy just happened to look out the window as his wife dove headfirst into a pile of snow. His first reaction was to double over in laughter but he quickly regrouped. Honey, are you all right? he said as he ran from the house.

Ellen was so mad she couldn’t speak and as she stood up she realized she had sprained her ankle so badly she would be lucky to make it back in the house. She put her arm around Andy’s shoulder and limped back into the house. She felt as if she could breathe fire and was in a lot of pain. After Andy put ice on her ankle she called Samantha.

I won’t be coming to your house, I slipped on ice and sprained my ankle and I’m in a great deal of pain. I can tell you the only New Year’s resolution I’ll be making is the one that said to enjoy life and the reason I will be enjoying life is I won’t be making any more resolutions! With that both women laughed themselves silly.

So you’re saying you got nothing out of your new year’s resolutions ellen? Samantha asked.

I’m saying i got bupkis!

VALENTINE’S DAY 

CLASS REUNION

Eden, the UPS truck is out front. I sure hope its Kara’s wedding veil. If I have to deal with one more nervous wreck Bridezilla, … Lily’s voice trailed off as she left the room.

I wonder why Sam isn’t coming to the back door like he always does. Eden walked to the door but no one was there, she stepped onto the porch. A young man jumped out of the back of the large brown truck. So many boxes were in his arms she could barely see his eyes.

Eden looked closely at the handsome man and then looked again.

Is that you Connor?

Sure is. I know you; let me think, Eden Reynolds! Connor’s eyes lit up. You’re looking good.

Thanks. So are you. I thought you moved away after college.

I did, but I’m back, he said quietly. My father died and my mother and kid brother needed me here for awhile.

Eden noticed his empty ring finger as she signed for the packages.

How’d you end up working in a wedding boutique Eden?

"I got my business degree and on a whim attended a seminar on becoming a wedding planner. I loved it so much I decided to take this job at Almost Married. I enjoy being back in my hometown. I was out of state for college. I heard a statistic the other day that half of all Americans